Archive for August, 2008
Homebrew New File Manager
Author: mase
Homebrew developer ne0h has added another file manager to the rapidly growing list of applications suited for the Sony PSP. Known as XploRa version 1.5, this application features an enormous set of features considering that this is only its third release.
New Features and Improvements
- multi-language support in English and Italian
- improved memory usage
- 32 MB extra memory can be used in PSP Slim
- added simple image viewer that supports: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PCX, TGA and other popular formats
- function that allows you to sort lists by name, type and size
- improvements to data and time display function
- system tray that displays actual path and current active process
- added MP3 player
- added Zip_Manager capable of extracting zip files directly into folders
- added standard “Homebrew Sorter” to manage icons in the XMB
- added reboot feature
The XploRa project is still in development and does not support some of the common functions found in similar applications. However, it does offer a clean interface with controls that are very easy to use. We’re more than interested to learn how this project evolves from here.
read comments (0)
PSP Camera Not Living Up To Expectations
Author: mase
Due to a lack of power the standard PSP camera will not be making its way to America.
The “Chotto Shot” is a 1.3 Megapixel camera attachment for the PSP, which has been available in Japan since 2006 and Europe since 2007. The peripheral connects to the top of the PSP using the USB connector slot, and comes bundled with video editing software.
Users can take snapshots and video, and add digital stickers to pictures using the bundled program. The highest resolution that the camera can achieve is 1280×960 for still photographs and 480×272 for video.
A representative from Sony at Comic Con told Siliconera that the company is unlikely to bring the device to North America, because the camera is not powerful enough to compete with those already found in most cell phones over here.
Some claim The 1.3 megapixel Chotto Shot was already obsolete when it first launched, but always felt that it had potential as an enhancement for games rather than as a professional-grade camera.
Unfortunately, there have not been any upcoming titles that take advantage of the camera input.
PSP Still Waiting For Wipeout HD
Author: mase
PSP owners have been enjoying Wipeout Pulse for nearly a year now, but the PS3 downloadable port termed “Wipeout HD” has been delayed again for several reasons.
The console version will combine tracks from the handheld versions of Pure and Pulse, add some new vehicles, updated hi-definition graphics and other features, but for all intents and purposes remains identical to the two PSP games.
There are many possible reasons, both official and unofficial, for the delayed release of the highly-anticipated Wipeout HD. Early last week, reports circulated on the web that SCEE was forced to delay the game because the ultra-high frame-rate and frantic action on screen was posing a health hazard to epileptics. This excuse also helps explain the absence of the title at last week’s E3 gaming event, where many expected some hands-on time with the game.
Whether the epilepsy story turns out to be true or not, Sony remains mum. Today, they announced a few more reasons for the unexpected delay of the game: trophies and 2-player split screen. Undoubtedly, both of these improvements will appeal to fans of the series; regardless of the delays, the game is shaping up to be worth the wait.
PSP Sales Look Successful
Author: mase
The first quarter of Sony’s new fiscal year, April through June 2008) has turned out to be quite successful for the PlayStation brand. The gaming division posted a profit of $51 million, a drastic change from PS3 loss-driven quarters in the past. PSP played a major role in bringing PlayStation to profitability, with increasing hardware and software sales.During this period, PSP sold 3.72 million units worldwide, an increase of 75% over Q1 2008. Software sales went up to 11.8 million units, an increase of 20%. While improving software sales is a good sign, the total still trails significant earnings from both the PS2 and PS3.
PSP continues to meet incredible success all over the world, especially in Japan.
Is EA Getting Closer to Take-Two Ownership?
Author: mase
Earlier this week an investment journalist reported that Microsoft was the suitor for Take-Two; today, Citigroup analyst Brent Thill believes that Electronic Arts will officially purchase Take-Two by August. Thill states:
“We expect FTC approval in August and for ERTS to raise its bid slightly upon approval to $27-$28 in order to potentially seal a deal in time for holiday season GTA orders.”
However, if Take-Two refuses the bid, Thill believes that Electronic Arts “walk as the near-term economics to ERTS of a deal would deteriorate.”
It’s makes more sense than Microsoft, especially if Electronic Arts were to raise their bid from the $25 it first offered to $28. After enduring a long wait, we should have an answer soon.
For more PSP information: www.pspmeeting.com
Attention Macross Frontier Fans!
Author: mase
Some new information regarding the anime Macross Frontier’s PSP game port has come out of hiding, specifically regarding its replay and screenshot features, ad-hoc battle mode and some of the characters and mecha that are expected to be available.
Macross Ace Frontier’s replay mode will enable you to play back any missions you’ve accomplished from start to end. You will be able to pick your own camera angles and zoom levels, and you can even view the battle from your opponent’s perspective.
The title’s multiplayer bouts will feature an ID System, where your nickname, pilot status and level, mission completion percentage, item completion percentage, and play time are displayed.
According to IGN, the game will carry a total of 30 different characters representing the various timelines and series within the Macross universe. At the moment, Vrlitwhai Kridanki (Macross), Guld Goa Bowman (Macross Plus), Mylene Flare Jenius (Macross 7), Gigile (Macross 7), and Luca Angelloni (Macross Frontier), have been confirmed.
Other possible playable pilots spotted in a previous magazine scan include: Alto Saotome (Macross Frontier), Michael Blanc (Macross Frontier), Maximilian Jenius (Macross), and Basara Nekki (Macross 7). Moving on, a total of 40 mechs are expected to be available, which will include the Defender, Monster, Tomahawk, YF-21 Sturmvogel, YF-21 Excalibur, and the Queadluun-Rea.
ArtDink’s Macross Ace Frontier has been dated for an October 9 release in Japan, with no word of a North American at this time.
New Features Added To Powder
Author: mase
Homebrew developer Jeff Lait recently released another hefty set of updates to the dungeon crawling homebrew game Powder. The current build counts itself as release 107 and adds a lot of new features taken directly from the users’ feedback.
Most of the new additions center mainly on gameplay and visual tweaks. For one, several new tilesets have been added to reflect various status effects, such as petrified or poisoned characters.
Here are the complete details covering all the new additions and features added to the game:
* Leather helms will actually use the new leather helm icon.
* Doors to special rooms will hopefully now be properly blocked so wandering monsters don’t wander through them.
* Secret doors should no longer be giveaways in dark rooms by being the only lit wall.
* Special overlay tile when creatures are on fire.
* New special weapon, the earth hammer.
* Creatures may teleport you to escape rather than always themselves.
* Creatures will use wands of sleep to escape.
* Creatures that are tame to someone other than yourself are described as followers rather than tame.
* Picked up items always go to the end of your inventory rather than filling holes, hopefully making it easier to find items you just picked up.
* H’ruth is no longer impressed by you being surrounded by sleeping or paralysed enemies.
* The charging of lightning rapiers is now proportional to the damage that would be done.
* Tlosh will grant exotic armour skill.
* Necromancer and Barbarian dress codes
* When polyed into a grid bug you can move diagonally with the stylus, mouse, or the new Move command.
* Flamestrike’s strength now is dependent on your favour with your current god.
* Ghosts are no longer able to bypass the library’s locks.
* You can make secret doors and hidden traps.
* You can smash viewports.
* Name generator has a hotkey so keyboard purists can use it.
* Forgetting things no longer leaves the menu on screen.
* When turning to stone or poisoned your appearance changes.
* The final damage from poison is now applied before the you are cured message, leading to a less confusing apparent order of events.
* Ibson the Grey tileset white and red dragons fixed.
Powder release 107 includes a lengthy documentation, which explains all of the game’s controls and how to run it on your preferred platform.
For more PSP information: www.pspmeeting.com
If you’ve heard about the Video Game Enforcement Act but haven’t been keeping up with recent activities, consider this your crash course.The S.3315 bill would, if made law,
“…prohibit the distribution or sale of video games that do not have age-based content rating labels [and] prohibit the sale or rental of video games with adult content ratings to minors…”
GamePolitics managed to acquire a copy of the actual piece of legislation, placing a PDF of it online for people to peruse.
S.3315, which calls itself the Video Game Rating Enforcement Act of 2008, isn’t to be confused with the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act of Reps. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Lee Terry (R-NE), though the content of both is similar. S.3315 essentially reads that games must be rated before they can be sold or rented, that information on the said ratings be easily seen by consumers in stores, and that games with “mature” or “adults only” ratings should be sold to people of the proper age to buy said game.
Much is left unspecified in the bill, however, such as the nature of downloadable games and the issue of the independent game maker who usually can’t afford to have his game rated.
GPS Enabled PSP
Author: mase
During a press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony confirmed the launch of a GPS add-on for its PlayStation Portable, along with the possibility for GPS games and services as early as next year.
Sony PlayStation’s Senior Marketing Manager John Koller told MTV that this add-on “changes the dynamics of GPS but also changes the way developers think about games on PSP because you can start integrating GPS into it.”
The PSP model with GPS has been sold in Japan since 2006, causing states-side gamers and bloggers alike to anticipate U.S. integration. Yet, after this many years the excitement surrounding Sony’s announcement is mixed with doubt.
According to PSP Fanboy, “It only took, y’know years,” while Engadget writes, “Considering just how long we’ve been waiting for the add-on, we’re not holding our breath on the titles.”
Crunchgear notes, “All we care about is how the games come out. …It seems Sony still has to convince developers and publishers…to, you know, make the games first. A minor point.”
IGN’s Greg Miller got to test out a prototype model at the Comic Con conference in San Diego. Although no games are yet offered, the PSP’s GPS functions are very workable, if basic.
“What I found pretty neat were the options in the Settings folder,” Miller writes. “You can set your preference to give you routes that are the fastest, shortest, or economical; you can set it to avoid u-turns and tolls; and you can set your transportation mode to be car, taxi, pedestrian or bicycle.”
New Details For PSP Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Author: mase
New details have emerged for Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep for the PSP and Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days for DS. The info was posted by Japanese gaming blog Apocalypse.H ere are the new details that were unveiled (quoting Kingdom Hearts Insider):
Birth By Sleep
* A finisher attack technique called “Shock Lock System” appears.
* Screenshots of Ven and Terra are shown, but there is no new dialogue.
358/2 Days
* Screenshot: Axel saying “How many times do I bring them back?”
* Screenshot: Namine saying “Surely she is unable to endure it.”
* The members of Organization XIII are assigned missions.
* Release date: 2008
A release date still hasn’t been announced for the psp game Birth By Sleep but it can’t be too far off. But if you need more psp games and stuff, you can always have a look at a site like this.
Anyway, for more psp games news and stuff, come back for more.